Inspired by pro-life witness
It was uplifting to read the article about the 40 Days of Life in Roanoke Valley (Catholic Virginian, Oct. 17). 40 Days for Life also takes place in Virginia Beach.
Our country needs people who support, witness, vote for and pray for respect for all human life, especially for the innocent unborn children.
It was also inspiring to see Father Chris Hess from St. Anne in Bristol personally helping to install a memorial for the unborn on the Church lawn.
May all our priests follow his example standing up for the life of the unborn. – Sister Brenda Query, IHM, Kulpmont, PA
Consider why women seek abortion
Since The Catholic Virginian printed a letter comparing American women to Nazi war criminals (Catholic Virginian, Oct. 17), I thought I might provide another perspective.
According to the 2019 statistics by Guttmacher Institute, 59% of the women who have abortions already have children at home. Sixty percent of the women who have abortions are in their 20s, and 49% of the women who have abortions live below the federal poverty level.
The abortion rates may drop if women received a living wage, affordable housing, safe neighborhoods, prenatal care, universal health coverage and free daycare. Education that promotes free contraception without shame is also needed.
Are we willing to support, with tax dollars, a more socialistic republic in order to curb abortions? Or should we just arrest and jail all the women whom we consider murderers? Although more police, more prosecutors, more public defenders and more jails will increase taxes also.
We have freedom of religion in this country, which is still a reverend tenet of our democracy. There is a discrepancy among religions on when life begins. Not every woman who gets an abortion is Catholic, although in 2014, 24% of women who had abortions identified as Catholic.
Each and every woman has a story to tell. Maybe we should listen.
John 8:7: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”
I wish Pope Francis would renew the Year of Mercy. We sure need it. – Helen Henrich, Fredericksburg